The 2014 FIBA World Cup, which Spain will host from Aug. 30-Sept. 14, will have an "estimated economic impact" of €300M ($405M) on the country, according to Jose Felix Diaz of EL CONFIDENCIAL. Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) President José Luis Sáez's "main objective is not to create a deficit." The budget for the tournament, which will include a total of 75 games held in Sevilla, Granada, Las Palmas, Bilbao, Madrid and Barcelona, will not exceed €40M ($54M). The investments already made into infrastructure have cost around €80M ($108M), with €70M ($94.5M) "going into the construction of a new stadium in Las Palmas and the rest being devoted to renovations of other stadiums." The revenue from the event will include €23M ($31M) in contributions from the host venues, €13.5M ($18.2M) from commercial sponsorship rights and €6M ($8.1M) from ticket and hospitality sales. The expenses will be split between promotion and advertising, operating expenses and programs to prepare the facilities for the period following the event. FIBA has put on sale approximately 650,000 tickets, with the goal of reserving 40% of the seats for fans outside Spain. The event will be broadcast in 200 countries (EL CONFIDENCIAL, 2/4).

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf has said that his Indian counterpart N Srinivasan had agreed to India playing a bilateral series with Pakistan at a neutral venue. "Mr Srinivasan has reassured me they are serious about playing a bilateral series with us even at

neutral venues of our choice, but eventually we will need some written assurances and firm guarantees that this series will happen," Ashraf told the media in Lahore on Monday.

Ashraf termed the offer by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a positive gesture.

"We want to be sure that this proposed series against India will actually take place, because you have to keep in mind that India had avoided playing regular bilateral series with us in recent years," he said.

Ashraf pointed out that, in contrast, Pakistan had gone out of its way to play against India and had toured India in 2007 and 2013 but in this period India only came to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2008.

The offer from the BCCI for a bilateral series at a neutral venue has come after Indian cricket board along with its Australian and England counterparts moved a draft proposal paper at the ICC, which proposes to restructure the governance model of the world body and also revise the distribution of finances and revenues among member nations.

Ashraf said that as far as relations with India were concerned, PCB would seek guarantees and written assurances from the BCCI for any future series.

He admitted that the BCCI had told Pakistan before the ICC meeting late last month that they needed to sign the draft proposal by the three boards but since then India's stance had changed for the positive.

Ashraf also said that the PCB was in talks with the South Africa and Sri Lankan cricket boards to have regular series with them.

"With South Africa we are looking to have a regular series named the Jinnah-Mandela trophy," he said.

Asked about the Umar Akmal road rage incident and his subsequent arrest by the police, and his time in lock up, Ashraf said the board would be inquiring into the matter to find out what actually happened and why the incident took place.

- See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/cricketnews/srinivasan-has-agreed-for-indo-pak-bilateral-series-ashraf/article1-1180147.aspx#sthash.HVGfcC7G.dpuf

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf has said that his Indian counterpart N Srinivasan had agreed to India playing a bilateral series with Pakistan at a neutral venue. "Mr Srinivasan has reassured me they are serious about playing a bilateral series with us even at

neutral venues of our choice, but eventually we will need some written assurances and firm guarantees that this series will happen," Ashraf told the media in Lahore on Monday.

Ashraf termed the offer by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a positive gesture.

"We want to be sure that this proposed series against India will actually take place, because you have to keep in mind that India had avoided playing regular bilateral series with us in recent years," he said.

Ashraf pointed out that, in contrast, Pakistan had gone out of its way to play against India and had toured India in 2007 and 2013 but in this period India only came to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in 2008.

The offer from the BCCI for a bilateral series at a neutral venue has come after Indian cricket board along with its Australian and England counterparts moved a draft proposal paper at the ICC, which proposes to restructure the governance model of the world body and also revise the distribution of finances and revenues among member nations.

Ashraf said that as far as relations with India were concerned, PCB would seek guarantees and written assurances from the BCCI for any future series.

He admitted that the BCCI had told Pakistan before the ICC meeting late last month that they needed to sign the draft proposal by the three boards but since then India's stance had changed for the positive.

Ashraf also said that the PCB was in talks with the South Africa and Sri Lankan cricket boards to have regular series with them.

"With South Africa we are looking to have a regular series named the Jinnah-Mandela trophy," he said.

Asked about the Umar Akmal road rage incident and his subsequent arrest by the police, and his time in lock up, Ashraf said the board would be inquiring into the matter to find out what actually happened and why the incident took place.

- See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/cricketnews/srinivasan-has-agreed-for-indo-pak-bilateral-series-ashraf/article1-1180147.aspx#sthash.HVGfcC7G.dpuf

Pakistan Cricket Board Chair Zaka Ashraf said that Board of Control for Cricket in India President N. Srinivasan "had agreed to India playing a bilateral series with Pakistan at a neutral venue," according to the PTI. Ashraf said, "Mr. Srinivasan has reassured me they are serious about playing a bilateral series with us even at neutral venues of our choice, but eventually we will need some written assurances and firm guarantees that this series will happen." Ashraf termed the offer by the BCCI "as a positive gesture." Ashraf said that as far as relations with India were concerned, the PCB "would seek guarantees and written assurances from the BCCI for any future series." Ashraf also said that "the PCB was in talks with the South Africa and Sri Lankan cricket boards to have regular series with them." Ashraf: "With South Africa we are looking to have a regular series named the Jinnah-Mandela trophy" (PTI, 2/4).
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Ponferrada, Spain Mayor Samuel Folgueral assured that his city, which will host the 2014 UCI Road World Championships in September, has "raised 70% of the event's budget," according to Chema Bermejo of AS. Folgueral confirmed after a meeting with Spanish Superior Sports Council (CSD) President Miguel Cardenal and Spanish Cycling Federation President José Luis López Cerrón that the budget for the event has reached €11M ($14.9M), of which €6M ($8M) will go toward hosting the event and €5M ($6.8M) will cover a fee to the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI). Folgueral said, "We still owe two payments -- of €1M ($1.3M) apiece -- which we will make in March and June of this year. I can say there is an absolute guarantee from our City Council that we will make these payments." After "facing numerous problems, it seems that Ponferrada's hosting of the event is now assured thanks to government support." Cardenal "explained that the government support will not be financial" (AS, 2/4).